NEVER BE SILENT
Pray: Let Your Word be Spoken, heard, obeyed, thru Him Who is the Word
by The Rev Canon Dr B W Wait III+
Welcome to a day in the life of Peter the fisherman, disciple of Jesus the carpenter, Apostle of Jesus the Son of God, Witness of the Resurrection and the Ascension, Missionary to the End of the Earth and Martyr for the Faith! I cannot imagine the extent, the depth or breadth or number of all the exciting days in Peter’s life. Surely the Day of Pentecost must have been right up there near the top. Day after day following Jesus, miracle after miracle, soul after soul, growing closer and closer each day. Somehow an old Gospel song comes to mind:
Every day with Jesus is Sweeter than the day before; Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more;
Jesus saves and keeps me, And He’s the one I’m living for; Every day with Jesus is Sweeter than the day before.
Applying Forest Gump philosophy to Peter’s life, we can say: Life with Jesus “is like a box of ‘chocklets’ – you never know what you’re going to get” – you do however, know it gets sweeter day by day as you grow in holiness with Jesus.
We grow in Holiness by spending time with Him and obeying His Commandments. The litmus test to determine how well we are loving God with all our being, and loving our neighbors as ourselves is the Great Commission: making disciples of all nations (families, tribes, tongues & people groups) beginning at home and extending to the end of the earth. Peter himself, speaking from his commitment of obedience to Jesus by making disciples tells us to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks for a reason for the hope that abides in us and sustains us in every situation. (1 Peter 3.15). Jesus promises ‘I will send the Spirit! . . . I will not leave you orphans!’ (John 14.16-18)
Always testify to the Greatness and Glory of the Savior of the World. Never be silent!
The Day of Pentecost for Peter probably started much like every other day since the Ascension: meeting together with his brothers and the women in an upper room where they continued in one accord in prayer and supplication, and worship with the reading of Scripture and praise. Suddenly all Heaven breaks loose!
Like a new Transfiguration! God’s awesome holiness parting the sky, gale sounding wind and tongues of fire enveloping these chosen ones of God, His beloved sons and daughters - reconciled with their Father. And His Holy Spirit caressing each one, filling and empowering them with all the gifts they need to do all He has commanded – even greater works than His Son – even to the end of the earth.
St. Luke lists more than a dozen people groups plus non-Jewish proselytes who witnessed this miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. John Stott in The Message of Acts, notes that Luke includes in his list of dwellers in Jerusalem descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah who survived the great flood. From these three sons, came all the peoples of the earth, i.e., the whole world even to the end of the earth, was represented in Jerusalem on that Pentecost Day. Moreover, on that day, the curse of Babel was deliberately and dramatically broken by the supernatural gift of languages as the Holy Spirit gave each disciple utterance to proclaim the wonderful works of God in every tongue under heaven.
Never be silent! Throughout the Old Testament and the New, believers are urged to proclaim the glories of God!
St. Paul writes, ‘Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with long suffering and teaching.’ (2 Timothy 4.2)
On Palm Sunday, when some Pharisees called Jesus to rebuke His disciples as they hailed Him as ‘the King who comes in the name of the LORD,’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.’ (Luke 19.39-40)
I’m quite sure that event was ever on the mind of Peter, the rock upon which Jesus promised to build His church. (Matthew 16.18) Peter could not be silent!
Peter responded immediately to the crowd who witnessed the supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their countrymen, a crowd of devout men who were amazed and perplexed by what they saw and heard. Peter rose to the occasion and began to open up the Scriptures to the crowd (perhaps as Jesus opened up the Scriptures to the two on the road to Emmaus 50 days earlier).
I have a confession to make about including the whole sermon of Peter in our readings today – it’s my fault, so don’t blame your Rector. We need to read, mark, learn and digest it. The Book of Acts seems to contain as many ‘Addresses’ as it does ‘Acts.’ In fact, Acts includes 19 significant Christian speeches, eight by Peter, nine by Paul, one by Stephen and one by James, some 25% of the text. The addresses, while obviously not verbatim, are believed to be condensed accounts of speeches actually made, and are valuable and independent sources upon which one may rely for the history and theology of the New Testament church. (Stott, Acts)
All Scripture bears witness to Christ, especially Jesus’ death, resurrection and world-wide mission. Peter now begins to explain or interpret OT passages in light of its fulfilment. The NT authors are unanimous in their conviction that Jesus inaugurated the last days or Messianic Age, and that the final proof was the outpouring of the Spirit. It is an age in which His ministry is in abundance. It is the age in which the Gospel is to be preached throughout the world that everyone may hear of salvation! We have the Spirit! All we need to do is start appropriating all the power we’ve been given! We have the gifts! Let’s start using them! Time is of essence! Civilization is crumbling under evil! We cannot be silent!
Peter seized his opportunity: it didn’t matter that the Roman Empire occupied Jerusalem. It didn’t matter that his own Sanhedrin had rejected the Word made flesh. It didn’t matter that his own life would be taken in service to Jesus.
He had been given the ultimate gift of close personal relationship with Salvation in the person of Jesus. He had the gifts & power of the Spirit. He could not be Silent.
Luke tells us “There were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.” (Acts 2.5). And to this crowd, overwhelmed by what they were seeing and hearing from the 120 spirit-filled believers pouring into the streets, Peter began his exposition. He explained the prophecy of Joel. Then Peter presented Jesus as the best way to understand Pentecost. He did this in six stages:
(i) He was a man, though divinely attested by miracles; (ii) He was put to death by wicked hands, though according to God’s purpose; (iii) He was raised from the dead, as the prophets had foretold and the Apostles had witnessed; (iv) He was exalted to God’s right hand, and from there poured out the Spirit; (v) He now gives forgiveness and the Spirit to all who repent and believe and are baptized; and (vi) He thus adds them to His new community. (Stott, Acts, p 79)
Then Peter gave the first altar call, and about 3,000 entered the kingdom. Peter wasn’t silent.
It is not enough for us to refrain from Silence, and it isn’t enough for us to just proclaim Jesus. Many versions of Jesus are presented every day. Jesus must be presented historically (real person, born, died, rose, ascended), theologically (all the aspects of His life have salvation significance), and contemporarily (He does now for us what He did then). Men, women and children are to be confronted with the necessity of decision. Will they choose life or death? Never be Silent!
All of us are not preachers, thank goodness! All of us don’t have opportunity to offer alter calls and expect thousands to respond. But all of us are expected to know the essentials of Jesus. We are expected to share how He came to us and our experience of new life in Him. A few weeks ago, a young mother sat in our den as we chatted abut Jesus. As I shared the absolute joy of meeting Him and being filled with the Spirit, tears began filling her eyes. Suddenly she was overwhelmed by the Spirit of the Living God. Her life was changed forever.
Never be silent! Never be silent! Never be silent! Amen
Genesis
11 Now the whole earth had one language and one [a]speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricksand [b]bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called [c]Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
Acts 2
2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own [c]language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and [d]Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only[e]the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
- And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
- I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
- The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
- And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’
- “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you [f]have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having [g]loosed the [h]pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. . . . . . . . . .
29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, [i]according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted [j]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
'Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [l]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [m]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [n]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Psalm 104
24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions—
25 This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things, Living things both small and great.
26 There the ships sail about;
There is that Leviathan[e]
Which You have [f]made to play there.
27 These all wait for You,
That You may give them their food in due season.
28 What You give them they gather in;
You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
29 You hide Your face, they are troubled;
You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.
35 May sinners be consumed from the earth, And the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
[g]Praise the Lord!
1 Corinthians
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: . . . .
4 There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works [e]all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink [g]into one Spirit.
John 14
8 Philip said to Him, Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you [c]ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 “If you love Me, [d]keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.